Time-controlled apparatus



May 15, 1934. A. R. HARMON TIME CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l May 15, 1934. A. R. HARMON TIME CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 15, 1934. A. R. HARMON TIME CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIME-CONTROLLED APPARATUS Application January 20, 1932, Serial No. 587,793

9 Claims.

The invention relates to time-controlled apparatus for actuating valves and the like and has for its objects to provide new and useful improvements in devices of this character.

My present invention is of the general nature disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 552,505, filed July 22, 1931, for Time-controlled apparatus, and constitutes in effeet a continuation in part of the disclosure of said co-pending application.

In the invention disclosed in my said filed application time-controlled means are provided for obtaining the automatic actuation of a valve or switch after the expiration of a predetermined period of time, for example to close said valve after the mechanism has been manually set with the valve in open position. Said invention also includes convenient means'for setting and adjusting the mechanism without interfering with the clock setting and insuring the instant and eifective actuation of the valve or switch immediately upon the elapse of any desired time interval.

The present improvements, while disclosing substantially the same method and means for insuring the initial valve or switch actuation, also includes additional means for obtaining a further valve actuation after the expiration of a second time interval. For example, in my present invention, mechanism may be set with the valve or switch closed or in inoperative position and automatically actuated to open the valve, and closing the switch after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. In a gas or electric range such initial valve actuation would start the flow of fuel or current for a cooking operation at a certain time when the premises may be deserted. After the desired cooking interval has elapsed the time-controlled mechanism is further automatically actuated to close the valve in the flow line or open the switch to discontinue the cooking operation, also at a time when there may be no one present on the premises. The advantages attendant upon such improvements will be manifest.

With such objects in view, as well as other advantages which may be incident to the use of the improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations thereof hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements constituting the same may be varied in proportions and arrangements without departing from the nature and scope of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements, in their useful applications, to the particular constructions which, 'for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration. I

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a time-controlled valve actuating apparatus constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, a portion of the outer casing being broken away.

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view partly in section of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and showing the valve in closed position prior to its automatic actuation to open the same.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the valve has been automatically moved to open position.

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the valve has been again automatically actuated and moved to closed position at the expiration of a predetermined time.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line '77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the adjustable latch member and associated parts movable as a unit.

Fig. 9 is a detail View showing the construction and arrangement at the inner end of both latch members.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the inner end of the valve system and showing the arrangement of the same when used to control an electric switch.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the outer or stationary casing which is designed to be mounted in the panel of a gas range (not shown) or otherwise secured in fixed position. The casing 1 is enlarged at its outer end to provide an annular recess 2, and said enlarged portion is preferably provided with a hinged cover or door 3 having a glass or transparent panel 4.

The rear wall 5 of the outer casing is centrally apertured to receive a nut 6 which is internally threaded to receive the inner end of a bushing 7 having a flared circular outer wall 8 which limits the threaded engagement of the bushing with the nut. An intermediate rotary adjustable cup shaped casing member 9 is housed within the casing 1 and its rear wall 10 is centrally apertured at 11 to provide a journal mounting of the casing 9 on the bushing '7. Said casing 9 isspaced outwardly from the rear wall 5 of the stationary casing 1 by means of an annular bead or projection 12 provided on the rear wall of the latter casing.

An inner axially movable casing 13 is housed within the intermediate casing 9, the rear wall 14 of said inner casing being centrally apertured to receive therethrough a threaded bushing or nut 15 having an outer imperforate flange 16 secured as at 1'7 to the rear wall of the inner casing. The bushing 15 is provided with a central chamber 18 for the reception of 'a coil spring 19 one end of which is received within and bears against the enlarged recessed head portion 20 of an axially movable valve stem 21. The valve stem projects through and is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation within the hollow bushing 7 and is further provided with a necked-inor tapered portion 22 terminating in an enlarged;

hub portion 23 immediately adjacent the 'recessed head 20 of the valve stem. A cap member 24 is centrally apertured for the loose reception of the valve stem portion '23 and has a threaded engagement 25 with the bushing 15 to limit outward movement of the valve stem relative to the inner casing 13. The inner wall of the chamber 18 of bushing 15 is provided with a longitudinal groove or recess 26 (Fig. 4) engaging a key or rib 2'? in the valve stem to maintain said stem and said inner casing 13 against relative rotary movement.

- The inner cup-shaped casing 13 is designed to receive a clock 28, which may be of the usual alarm clock type, said clock preferably nesting snugly within the casing to substantially fill the same so that its dial 29 is visible from the front of the apparatus through the transparent panel 4 of theouter stationary casing. The minute hand of the clock is'designated by the numeral 30 and the hour hand at 31.

g The inner end of the valve stem terminates in a reciprocating or gate valve 32 having a valve aperture 33. The valve is slidably mounted within the valve chamber 34 of a stationary or fixed valve housing 35. A relatively fixed gas or other fuel flow line is indicated at 36 and is removably secured as at 37 and 38 to the valve housing, the latter being suitably transversely apertured as at 39 to provide communication between the said flow line connections and the aperture 33 of the valve. The valve housing is further provided with an enlarged head 40 which is centrally apertured to slidably receive the axially reciprocable valve stem 21. A removable or adjustable abutment 41 is mounted on the valve stem 21 as by means of suitably disposed niches and a coil or tension spring 42 surrounds the valve stem bearing at one end against the head 40 of the valve housing. The other end of said coil spring bears against the adjustable abutment 41 and tends to move the valve stem outwardly or downwardly relative to the valve housing and easing 1 as viewed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

The parts so far described are substantially similar to those disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 552,505, filed July 22, 1931, and it will be observed that the clock 28 including its casing 13 are axially movable relative to intermediate and outer casings 9 and 1, but are not movable in a rotary direction relative thereto. The journal mounting at the rear end of the intermediate casing 9 permits rotary movement or adjustment of said casing relative to outer casing 1 and inner casing 13, but axial movement of said intermediate casing is not permitted. As heretofore explained the outer stationary casing 1 has a fixed engagement with a panel or other suitable bracket on the gas range or other fixture in connection with which the apparatus is designed to be used.

Means are provided to maintain the intermediate casing 9in rotary adjusted position relative to the clock 28. A housing 43 is secured to the outer wall of the intermediate casing and the outer end of said housing terminates in a tab or projection 44 (Fig. 3). A laterally projecting pin or stub shaft 45 on the housing supports at its outer end a pointed member 46 movable relative thereto and which is chambered to receive a coil spring 4'7 bearing at one end against said member and at its other end against the pin 45. The member 46 is further provided with a tab or projection 48 arranged adjacent to the similar projection 44 on the housing to permit said co-related tabs to be grasped between the fingers and the pointed member 46 moved inwardly against the tension of the spring. The point of the projec tion 46 normally engages an annular strip 49 of felt or other suitable material which is contained within the enlarged outer forward portion of the stationary casing '1. The tension of the spring 47 tends to maintain the intermediate casing 9 and outer casing 1 in adjusted position with respect to each other. When the tabs 44 and 48 are compressed the intermediate casing 9 may be rotated in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction relative to the clock 28 to the necessary or desired degree after which the tabs are released to lock the said casing in adjusted position.

The housing 43 of the intermediate casing 9 also has mounted for longitudinal reciprocation therein a detent member 50, the outer end of which is apertured to receive an arm 51 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 52 for rocking movement.

Arm 51 of the bell crank lever is engaged by a tension spring 53 which spring tends to maintain the parts in normal position as viewed in Fig. 3. In said position a second outwardly projecting arm 55 of the bell crank lever is in position to be engaged by a hand of the clock in a manner to be described. Referring to Fig. 4, in which the detent 50 is in normal position as described, its inner end 56 is disposed in the path of the outer end of a latch member 57, slidably mounted within suitable guides 58 secured to the inner Wall of the intermediate casing 9. As viewed in Fig. 4 and also Fig. 7 the inner end of the latch member 57 is bifurcated at 59 to receive and engage the tapered portion 22 of the valve stem and maintain the latter against outward or downward position as viewed in this figure (under the urge of the coil spring 42. A cam lever 60 is pivoted at 61 between two ears 62 secured to the latch 57 and a portion of said lever is provided with an arcuate recess 63 for the reception therethrough of a pin 64 extending between companion ears 65 secured on or forming an integral part of the guide walls 58 of the latch. A spring 66 is secured at its end 61 to the latch member 57 and at its other end rib '70 of the inner casing is to permit the apparatus to be set after actuation as will be described.

It will be understood that the latch 57 is movable radially of the intermediate casing 9 but is otherwise carried by and bodily movable with said casing when the latter is adjusted by a clockwise or counterclockwise movement as heretofore described. To permit the latch 57 to move outwardly wh n released by the detent 50, the easing 9 is provided with an aperture 71 in its outer wall. A projection 72 on the latch 57 is adapted to engage the wall of the casing and limit outward movement of the latch relative to the easing when the detent is moved out of the path of the latch. The parts described are operative in substantially the manner disclosed in my copending application above referred to.

A second latch member '73 is mounted for rotary adjustment relative to the intermediate casing 9. To permit said adjustment the latch 73, which is operative in the same manner as latch 57, is slidably mounted within suitable guide walls or channels 74 spaced inwardly from the rear wall 10 of the casing 9, said latch and its guide projecting outwardly through a slot '75 in the circular wall or" the casing 9. As best seen in Fig. 7 the slot 75 in the casing 9 extends almost entirely around the casing wall to permit a maximum range of adjustment of the latch 73 and its housing. As best seen in Fig. 8 the outer end or the guide member 74 terminates in an angularly projecting portion 76 so formed as to constitute a housing 77 which fits snugly against but is not secured to the circular wall of the casing 9 and is movable relative to said casing and to the outer stationary casing 1, between which respective casing walls the housing 77 is received. The portion 76 of the casing is apertured as at 78 to receive therethrough the outer end of the latch 73 to permit said outer end to be engaged by a detent member '79, which is similar in all respects to the detent which controls the latch 57. A stop 86 on the latch 73 limits outward movement of the latch when the detent has been removed from engagement therewith. The detent 79 is mounted for longitudinal movement within the housing '77 and its outer end is secured to a pivoted bell crank lever 80 which is mounted similarly to and operates in the same manner as the lever 55. A spring 81 tends to maintain the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 in readiness for the outwardly projecting arm of pivoted lever 80 to be engaged by one of the hands of the clock, as will be described.

From the foregoing and as best seen in Fig. 8 it will be noted that the lever 73, guide 74 and housing 77 are adjustable as a unit in an arcuate direction with respect to the casing 9 and around the valve stem 21 as a center, said adjustment taking place between the casings 1 and 9 and limited in range only by the end walls 750. of the slot in the casing 9. As best seen in Figs. 4 and 9 the rear wall of the guide 74 is provided with a lip 82 which engages over the circular flange 83 of a member 84 which is secured to the rear wall of the casing 9 and partially surrounds the bushing member '7. The member 84 is cut away at 85 to receive the inner end of the stationary guide 58 which is fixed to the casing 9. When the latch '73 is adjusted the lip 82 rides over the fiange 83 in a circular path as will be apparent.

The inner end of the latch 73 is bifurcated as at 87 and engages the reduced portion 22 of the valve stem at a point adjacent the enlargement 23 of said valve stem. A cam lever 88, similar to the cam lever 60, is pivotally mounted at 89 to the latch 73 and has anarcuate slot 90 engaging a pin 91 secured between two ears 92 of the guide 74. A spring 93 secured at its ends respectively to the latch 73 and its guide 74, tends to urge said latch outwardly to engage the inner end of the detent 79.

In order to maintain the latch 73 and associated parts in adjusted position relative to the casing 9, a finger latch 94 is provided which is similar in operation tov the finger latch 44, 45, 46 which holds the casing 9 in adjusted position. Said latch 94 comprises a hollow spring pressed member having a sharpened point 95 for engaging the felt or other circular strip 49 of the casing 1. When the finger tabs 96, 9'! which are similar to tabs 44 and 48 (Fig. 3) are compressed the member 94 is retracted from engagement with the felt strip 49 to permit the housing 77 and latch 73 to be moved in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction within the elongated slot 75. This adjustment it will be understood is relative to latch 5'7 (Fig. 7) and relative to all remaining parts of the apparatus, which may at the time be stationary. After the desired adjustment has been efiected, the finger tabs 96, 97 are released to lock the movable latch unit 73 in position, with respect to the hands of the clock 28.

Referring to Fig. 1 the minute hand 30 and hour hand 31 of the clock are preferably provided respectively with longitudinally adjustable extensions 98 and 99 to permit either or both of said hands to be elongated or shortened so as to control the engagement of said hands with the respective bell crank lever arms 55 and 80. As best seen in Fig. 4 latch member 57 controls the movement of the valve 32 to open position (Fig. 5) while latch 73, shown in engagement with the valve stem in Fig. 5 only, controls the movement of the valve stem to closed position (Fig. 6) after the valve has been open for a predetermined period of time.

The operation of the mechanism will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4 and assuming the parts to be in readiness for operation with the valve 32 closed, the intermediate casing 9 is adjusted bodily in a circular path by manipulation of finger tabs 44 and 48 (Fig. 3) to position arm 55 of the bell crank in desired position with respect to the hour hand 31 of the clock to effect the opening of the valve at the expiration of a predetermined elapsed time. While said adjustment is being made, the outer end of latch 57 is maintained in engagement with the detent 50, since these two elements are movable bodily with the casing 9 around the valve stem 21 as a cen ter. When the desired time has elapsed, extension 99 of the hour hand 31 engages the bell crank lever 55 and trips the same to move detent 50 out of engagement with the latch 57. The latter, under the urge of spring 66 is moved radially outward away from the reduced portion 22 or" the valve stem 21 to permit the latter to be moved outwardly or downwardly as viewed in Fig. 4 by the tension of coil spring 42. This movement of the valve stem continues until valve aperture 33 registers with the companion apertures 39 of the valve housing to open communication with the gas or other flow line. The parts are now in the position illustrated in Fig. 5 at which time further axial movement of the valve stem is arrested by engagement of the reduced portion 22 with the bifurcated inner end 87 of latch 73. It will be understood that during the tripping of bell crank 51, the hand 31 of the clock is not obstructed but passes freely over the extension 55 which is rocked out of its path and very little resistance is ofiered tothe hand. The described axial movement of the valve stem forces the inner clock casing 13 slightly outwardly or downwardly, and outward movement of latch 57 when released is permitted by the loose pin and slot engagement of cam lever 60 with the latch guide 58.

Assuming the device to be located on a gas range, the cooking automatically commences when the valve 32 is opened as described and will continue until the valve is further actuated to closed position. This movement is determined by the location of the adjustable latch 73 which has been previously set in a predetermined position with respect to the latch 57. For example, in Fig. 1 the latch '73 is shown as positioned substantially diametrically opposite to the latch 57, which would afford a cooking range of six hours. The extension 98 of the minute hand 30 is shown retracted so as not to interfere with or actuate the latch '73 during the elapse of this described time interval.

'The period for cooking may be varied at will by the circumferential adjustment of latch '73 through the manipulation of the tabs 95, 97 so that the said movable latch may be positioned at any point on the clock periphery with respect to latch 57 and its actuating mechanism.

After the hour hand has traversed the space between the described latch members it engages bell crank lever and trips the same in exactly the same manner as in the case of lever 55, to retract detent '79 from the path of latch '73. The latter is immediately moved by its spring 93 radially outwardly until arrested by stop 86 at which time the inner end of the latch will be out of the path of the reduced portion 22 of the valve stem. The latter is coincidently urged further in a longitudinal direction by its spring 42. This further movement of the valve stem closes the valve aperture 33 and shuts off the flow of fuel as illustrated in Fig. 6. The cooking operation is thereby automatically brought to a close at the expiration of the desired time interval.

By means of adjustment of the parts as described and the extensions on the clock hands, the valve may be caused to open at the expiration of any desired time, after which the valve is permitted to remain open also for any desired period, depending upon the nature of the cooking operation to be performed. The described adjustment further permits the parts to be moved relative to the clock hands without interfering with the proper setting of the latterx To reset the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1 it is only necessary to press inwardly on the clock casing 13 which moves the valve stem rearwardly. The engagement of annular projection or rib '70 with cam levers 60 and 88 moves the latter inwardly against the tension of their respective springs 66 and 93 to move the latch members radially inwardly until their outer ends clear the detents 50 and '79 which in turn are again positioned to hold the latch members in their innermost position, by means of the springs 53 and 81. The inward movement of the clock casing in setting the device is cushioned by spring 19 to insure flexible movement of the parts and accurate adjustment of the latch members 5''! and 73 as the reduced portion 22 is moved to its proper position (Fig. 4) with respect to said latch members.

'From the foregoing it will be obvious that the described improvements afford a wide range of cooking intervals up to eleven hours, and the interval of cooking, as well as the desired time before the cooking is to commence may be conveniently determined by the housewife.

As best seen in Fig. 2 the rear end of the valve stem 21 is held against rotation relative to valve housing 35 by means of a pin or set screw 104 in the housing engaging an elongated recess 105 in the valve stem.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated a slight modification of the invention for controlling the flow of electric current through a lighting circuit or the heating circuit of an electric range. The inner end of the valve stem 21a is slidably mounted in bearings 21%; on a suitable base or switch-block 210. A contact member 100 on valve stem 21a is adapted to be moved into engagement with spring contacts 101 and 102 to complete an electric circuit through the flow line 103. After the expiration of a predetermined time the valve stem 21a is again moved outwardly to break the contact through the said flow line and discontinue the heating or lighting period. It will be understood that this progressive axial movement of the valve stem 21a to make and break the electric circuit as viewed in Fig. 10 is obtained and controlled by the valve actuating mechanism heretofore described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a time-controlled apparatus, the combination of a flow line having a valve, a clock connected to said valve, means for holding said valve in closed position, means for moving said valve, means actuated by the hand of a clock to release said holding means and permit said valve to be opened by said valve moving means, means for holding said valve in open position and means actuated by the hand of the clock to release said second holding means to permit said valve to be closed by said valve moving means.

2. In a time-controlled apparatus, the combination of a flow line having a valve, a clock connected to said valve, a latch member for holding said valve in closed position, means for moving said valve, a spring controlled detent normally engaging said latch member and actuated by the hand of a clock to release said latch and permit said valve to be opened by said valve moving means, an adjustable latch member for holding said valve in open position and a second spring controlled detent normally engaging said second latch member and actuated by the hand of the clock to release said adjustable latch member to permit said valve to be closed by said valve moving means.

3. In a time-controlled apparatus, the combination of a flow line having a valve, a clock connected to said valve, means normally holding said valve in closed position, means tending to move said valve to open position, means actuated by the hand of said clock to release said holding means and permit said valve to be opened by said valve moving means, and means actuated by a bodily movement of said clock for closing said ing said valve in closed position, means for moving said valve, means actuated by the hand of a clock to release said holding means and permit said valve to be opened by said valve moving means, means normally holding said valve in open position, means actuated by the hand of the oi ck to release said second holding means to permit said valve to be closed by said valve moving means, and means engageable by a bodily movement of said clock for returning both of said valve holding means to their normal positions.

5. In a time-controlled apparatus, the combination of a flow line having a valve, a clock connected to said valve, a spring for moving said valve to open position, a latch member normally holding said valve in closed position, means normally engaging said latch member and actuated by a hand of said clock to release said latch member from engagement with said valve and permit the latter to be opened by said spring, a second latch member for holding said valve in open position, and means normally engaging said second latch member and actuated by a hand of said clock to release said latch member from engagement with said valve and permit the latter to be closed by said spring.

6. In a time-controlled apparatus, the combination of a flow line having a valve and valve seat, a stationary casing member spaced from said valve, an intermediate casing contained Within said stationary casing member and adjustable circumferentially relative thereto, a clock housed Within said intermediate casing and movable axially relative thereto, a valve stem connecting said valve with said clock, and clock actuated means for moving said valve stem and said clock in an axial direction relative to said intermediate casing to open and close said valve.

7. In a time-controlled apparatus the combination of a flow line having a normally closed valve and valve seat, a stationary casing member spaced from said valve, an intermediate casing contained within said stationary casing member and adjustable circumferentially relative thereto, a clock casing housed Within said intermediate casing and movable axially relative thereto, a valve stem connecting said valve with said clock casing, means for adjusting said intermediate casing circumferentially of said stationary casing, clock actuated means for moving said valve stem and said clock casing in an axial direction relative to said intermediate casing to open said valve, means for arresting movement of said valve stem after the valve has been opened, and means actuated by said clock for releasing said arresting means to permit further axial movement of said valve stem to close said valve.

8. In a time controlled apparatus, the combination of a flow line having a valve provided with a valve stem, a stationary casing, a movable casing, a clock mounted in said movable casing and bodily movable relative to said stationary casing, said movable casing being operatively connected to one end of said valve stem to move as a unit therewith, means engaging said valve stem for holding said valve in closed position, means for moving said valve, and means disposed between said movable and stationary casings and adapted to be actuated by a hand of said clock to release said holding means and permit said valve to be opened by said valve moving means.

9. In a time controlled apparatus, the combination of a flow line having a valve provided with a valve stem, a stationary casing, a movable casing, a clock mounted in said movable casing and bodily movable relative to said stationary casing, said movable casing being operatively connected to one end of said valve stem to move as a unit therewith, a latch member carried by said movable casing and engaging said valve stem for holding said valve in closed position, a spring for moving said valve, and a detent carried by said movable casing disposed between said movable and stationary casings and adapted to be actuated by a hand of said clock to release said latch member and permit said valve to be opened by said spring.

ARTHUR R. I-IARMON 

